ORLANDO -- A Florida judge ruled Thursday that George Zimmerman can be released from jail a second time on $1-million bond, saying he set the bail amount significantly higher because Zimmerman may have been hiding money as part of a plot to flee the country.
Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester had revoked Zimmerman's $150,000 bond last month after prosecutors told the judge that Zimmerman and his wife misled the court about how much money they had during an April bond hearing. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
"It is entirely reasonable for this court to find that, but for the requirement that he be placed on electronic monitoring, the defendant and his wife would have fled the United States with at least $130,000 of other people's money," Lester wrote.
Prosecutors said a website Zimmerman created for his legal defense had raised $135,000 at the time of his first bond hearing. Zimmerman and his wife did not mention the money then, and Shellie Zimmerman said the couple had limited resources.
Lester said he was granting bond because George Zimmerman posed no threat to the community. The judge's order requires Zimmerman to be electronically monitored and residing in Seminole County, prohibits him from opening a bank account or obtaining a passport and implements a 6 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew. Zimmerman had been allowed to leave Florida under the conditions of his first bond release.
Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara did not immediately return a phone message Thursday.
Shellie Zimmerman has been charged with perjury. She is out of jail on $1,000 bond, and her arraignment is set for July 31.
George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting the unarmed Martin on Feb. 26 at a gated apartment community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty and says the shooting was self-defense. Martin's parents and supporters say the teen was targeted because he was black and that Zimmerman started the confrontation.
Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester had revoked Zimmerman's $150,000 bond last month after prosecutors told the judge that Zimmerman and his wife misled the court about how much money they had during an April bond hearing. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
"It is entirely reasonable for this court to find that, but for the requirement that he be placed on electronic monitoring, the defendant and his wife would have fled the United States with at least $130,000 of other people's money," Lester wrote.
Prosecutors said a website Zimmerman created for his legal defense had raised $135,000 at the time of his first bond hearing. Zimmerman and his wife did not mention the money then, and Shellie Zimmerman said the couple had limited resources.
Lester said he was granting bond because George Zimmerman posed no threat to the community. The judge's order requires Zimmerman to be electronically monitored and residing in Seminole County, prohibits him from opening a bank account or obtaining a passport and implements a 6 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew. Zimmerman had been allowed to leave Florida under the conditions of his first bond release.
Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara did not immediately return a phone message Thursday.
Shellie Zimmerman has been charged with perjury. She is out of jail on $1,000 bond, and her arraignment is set for July 31.
George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting the unarmed Martin on Feb. 26 at a gated apartment community in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty and says the shooting was self-defense. Martin's parents and supporters say the teen was targeted because he was black and that Zimmerman started the confrontation.